Half height drive: No apparent failure or damage to tape

About this task

Note: If the cartridge in the drive is an INPUT tape that contains ACTIVE or 'ONLY COPY' data (there is no backup), eject commands that are issued at the host fail to unload the tape, and power-cycling the drive fails to eject the cartridge, make no further attempts to unload this tape. Call Technical Support and open a PMR if one is not already open, to initiate the process of sending the drive with the loaded cartridge in for recovery.

Procedure

  1. Set the drive on its left side with the head and tape path facing up.
    Figure 1. Rewinding tape into cartridge

    Rewinding tape into cartridge

    1 Loader motor worm gear 3 Takeup reel motor
    2 Outer guide rail (WARNING: Do Not Touch) 4 Supply reel motor
  2. Begin spooling the tape back into the cartridge by turning the supply reel motor (4) clockwise.
  3. Continue spooling into the cartridge until the tape is taut and remains within the flanges of the tape guiding rollers. Ensure that you do not stretch the tape. Continue spooling until all tape is removed from the takeup reel (3).
  4. Locate the threader intermediate gear (1) near the rear of the drive. You can use your finger to rotate the threader intermediate gear (1) and slowly rotate the threader mechanism gear (2) clockwise. This action draws the tape leader block assembly (LBA) into the cartridge.
    Figure 2. Drive with cover removed to reveal gear train.

    Drive with cover removed to reveal gear train

    1 Threader intermediate gear 2 Threader mechanism gear 3 Loader motor worm gear
  5. As the leader pin is secured in the cartridge, you hear the leader pin retention spring clips click into place. If you do not hear the click, continue rolling until the threader intermediate gear (1) stops. The LBA is in the correct position.
    Note: Be sure to keep tension on the tape as the LBA is drawn into the cartridge.
  6. Rotate the loader intermediate gear (1) clockwise as viewed from the front of the drive until it stops. This action releases the LBA leader pin.
  7. Rotate the threader motor worm gear (3) counterclockwise until the leader block is in front of the read/write head. This action moves the LBA out of the cartridge.
    Figure 3. Leader Block Assembly (LBA)

    Leader Block Assembly (LBA)

    1 Loader motor worm gear 2 Leader block assembly (LBA)
  8. Rotate the loader motor worm gear (3) counterclockwise as viewed from the front of the drive until it stops.
  9. Remove the cartridge from the cartridge loader tray.
  10. Go to Ending procedure.